1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Discharge  \Dis*charge"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Discharged};  p. 
  pr  &  vb  n.  {Discharging}.]  [OE.  deschargen  dischargen,  OF 
  deschargier  F.  d['e]charger;  pref.  des-  (L.  dis)  +  chargier, 
  F.  charger.  See  {Charge}.] 
  1.  To  relieve  of  a  charge,  load,  or  burden;  to  empty  of  a 
  load  or  cargo;  to  unburden;  to  unload;  as  to  discharge  a 
  vessel. 
 
  2.  To  free  of  the  missile  with  which  anything  is  charged  or 
  loaded;  to  let  go  the  charge  of  as  to  discharge  a  bow, 
  catapult,  etc.;  especially,  said  of  firearms,  --  to  fire 
  off  to  shoot  off  also  to  relieve  from  a  state  of 
  tension,  as  a  Leyden  jar. 
 
  The  galleys  also  did  oftentimes,  out  of  their  prows, 
  discharge  their  great  pieces  against  the  city. 
  --Knolles. 
 
  Feeling  in  other  cases  discharges  itself  in  indirect 
  muscular  actions.  --H.  Spencer. 
 
  3.  To  of  something  weighing  upon  or  impeding  over  one  as  a 
  debt,  claim,  obligation,  responsibility,  accusation,  etc.; 
  to  absolve;  to  acquit;  to  clear. 
 
  Discharged  of  business,  void  of  strife.  --Dryden. 
 
  In  one  man's  fault  discharge  another  man  of  his 
  duty.  --L'Estrange. 
 
  4.  To  relieve  of  an  office  or  employment;  to  send  away  from 
  service;  to  dismiss. 
 
  Discharge  the  common  sort  With  pay  and  thanks. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Grindal  .  .  .  was  discharged  the  government  of  his 
  see  --Milton. 
 
  5.  To  release  legally  from  confinement;  to  set  at  liberty; 
  as  to  discharge  a  prisoner. 
 
  6.  To  put  forth,  or  remove,  as  a  charge  or  burden;  to  take 
  out  as  that  with  which  anything  is  loaded  or  filled;  as 
  to  discharge  a  cargo. 
 
  7.  To  let  fly,  as  a  missile;  to  shoot. 
 
  They  do  discharge  their  shot  of  courtesy.  --Shak. 
 
  8.  To  set  aside;  to  annul;  to  dismiss. 
 
  We  say  such  an  order  was  ``discharged  on  appeal.'' 
  --Mozley  &  W. 
 
  The  order  for  Daly's  attendance  was  discharged. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  9.  To  throw  off  the  obligation  of  as  a  duty  or  debt;  to 
  relieve  one's  self  of  by  fulfilling  conditions, 
  performing  duty,  trust,  and  the  like  hence  to  perform  or 
  execute,  as  an  office,  or  part 
 
  Had  I  a  hundred  tongues,  a  wit  so  large  As  could 
  their  hundred  offices  discharge.  --Dryden. 
 
  10.  To  send  away  (a  creditor)  satisfied  by  payment;  to  pay 
  one's  debt  or  obligation  to  [Obs.] 
 
  If  he  had  The  present  money  to  discharge  the  Jew. 
  --Shak. 
 
  11.  To  give  forth;  to  emit  or  send  out  as  a  pipe  discharges 
  water;  to  let  fly;  to  give  expression  to  to  utter;  as 
  to  discharge  a  horrible  oath. 
 
  12.  To  prohibit;  to  forbid.  [Scot.  Obs.]  --Sir  W.  Scott. 
 
  {Discharging  arch}  (Arch.),  an  arch  over  a  door,  window,  or 
  other  opening,  to  distribute  the  pressure  of  the  wall 
  above.  See  Illust.  of  {Lintel}. 
 
  {Discharging  piece},  {Discharging  strut}  (Arch.),  a  piece  set 
  to  carry  thrust  or  weight  to  a  solid  point  of  support. 
 
  {Discharging  rod}  (Elec.),  a  bent  wire,  with  knobs  at  both 
  ends  and  insulated  by  a  glass  handle.  It  is  employed  for 
  discharging  a  Leyden  jar  or  an  electrical  battery.  See 
  {Discharger}. 
 
  Syn:  See  {Deliver}. 

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